How air travel to Croatia is changing in 2026

What to expect in 2026

In 2026, Croatia’s international air connectivity is set to expand significantly, driven by new routes from major global carriers, an increase in seasonal services and strategic network growth by the national airline. These developments arrive at a pivotal time, as Croatia once again prepares for a bustling summer tourist season, made easier to reach for travelers from Europe, the United States and beyond. Not only is the summer season more packed, Croatia has transformed into a year-round destination meaning there are more demands for air travel all throughout the year.

Growing demand

One of the most notable additions for the 2026 summer schedule is the new transatlantic service from the United States. United Airlines will operate nonstop flights between New York and Split, marking the first direct route from the U.S. to Split. This seasonal service will run three times weekly from 30 April to 6 September 2026, offering Americans direct access to the central Dalmatian coast.

United’s broader expansion includes Croatia as part of a larger international network growth, positioning the country alongside new destinations like Scotland and Spain in its 2026 schedule. While detailed plans include several new flights from the U.S. to Europe, Croatia’s inclusion highlights the rising demand for Adriatic travel from North America. Meanwhile, Croatia’s national carrier, Croatia Airlines, is significantly expanding its European network for summer 2026. The airline plans to operate over 19,290 flights between 29 March and 24 October, representing a 6 % growth year-on-year and offering more than 2.39 million seats across international routes. The airline’s summer timetable will link Croatia with 32 international destinations across 33 European airports, reinforcing connections from Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.

Two new seasonal routes from Croatia Airlines stand out:

• Nantes (France) to Split, operating twice weekly.
  
  
• Stuttgart (Germany) to Dubrovnik, also twice weekly.

Zagreb will see boosted connectivity, with flights to 23 international destinations including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Paris and Zurich, many of which are staples for tourists and business travelers alike. Split’s summer schedule strengthens its links with major European hubs such as Dublin, Istanbul, Lyon, Oslo, Prague and Stockholm, reinforcing its importance as a gateway to the Adriatic islands. 

In addition to legacy carriers, low-cost and regional airlines are contributing to the tourism boost. At Rijeka Airport, Hungary’s Wizz Air is launching three new seasonal routes to Poland, connecting Rijeka with Gdańsk, Katowice and Lublin starting 9 June 2026. These services are expected to add more than 65,000 seats, improving accessibility to the Kvarner region.

Then we come to Ryanair, a company that has been very active in Croatia for quite some time. Ryanair has gone through some changes in 2025 and has announced some cuts for the Balkan region, especially to the countries of Serbia and Bosnia. This came after low numbers were reported to these specific regions. Now cuts have also come to Croatia, the Zagreb-Marseille route that was introduced in the summer of 2024 as a seasonal route will be discontinued for the summer of 2026. The Zagreb-Frankfurt Hahn route also currently operates twice a week. According to available sources within Ryanair, the plan is to discontinue the route with the start of the summer 2026 flight schedule. Ryanair currently operates the Pisa-Zagreb route twice a week, but this route is also not planned for the summer of 2026. 

Even with these previously mentioned cuts, Ryanair is still the largest low-cost carrier in the city of Zagreb. Furthermore, the company has already signaled that Croatia remains their priority in the Balkan region so it is possible these cancelled routes will be replaced with new destinations or additional frequencies on existing routes from the Croatian metropolis. Lastly, SWISS International Air Lines will also introduce a new seasonal Zurich–Rijeka route, operating twice a week through the peak summer months.  

Taken together, these network expansions reflect a concerted effort by airlines and airports to support Croatia’s tourism industry in 2026. With more direct flights from key source markets, expanded European links, and novel seasonal services, access to Croatia is becoming easier and more attractive than ever for international visitors.

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